Modeling and manufacturing of dentures

ABSTRACT

A method for creating a digital model of a denture for a patient, where the denture includes a gingival part and artificial teeth, includes obtaining digital models of artificial teeth representing the artificial teeth; obtaining a 3D scan comprising a digital representation of at least part of the patient&#39;s existing gingiva; digitally modeling a gingival part of the digital model of the denture using the 3D scan and the digital artificial teeth; digitally determining a first offset defining a first thickness of a first portion of the gingival part of the digital model of the denture that extends from the digital representation of the at least part of the patient&#39;s existing gingiva; and digitally determining a second offset defining a second thickness of a second portion of the gingival part of the digital model of the denture that extends from the digital artificial teeth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/402,874,which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/877,064, now U.S. Pat. No.9,566,138 B2, which is a national stage application of PCT/DK11/50370,filed on Sep. 30, 2011, and which claims the priority of U.S.61/388,956, which was filed on Oct. 1, 2010, and DK Application No. PA2010 00893, which was filed on Oct. 1, 2010. U.S. Ser. No. 15/402,874;U.S. Ser. No. 13/877,064; PCT/DK11/50370; U.S. 61/388,956; and DKApplication No. PA 2010 00893 are all incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a method for modeling andmanufacturing a denture for a patient. In particular the inventionrelates to computer-implemented modeling.

BACKGROUND

US2009287332 discloses a system for fabricating at least a portion of adenture. The system includes a three-dimensional scanning device forscanning a surface of a denture template, and a computer-readable mediumincluding a computer program for receiving data from the scanningdevice, creating a 3-dimensional model of the surface, and optionallymodifying the 3-dimensional model and/or adding features to the3-dimensional model. The system also includes a fabricator for creatingthe at least the portion of the denture, from a selected material, basedon the 3-dimensional model. The fabricator may be a device including alathe, or a rapid prototyping machine. There is also provided a methodfor fabricating at least a portion of a denture.

US2007009852 discloses a denture comprising a denture plate comprising asupport member having an approximately U-shape base, a labial wallextending from said base and a lingual wall extending from said base;said base, labial wall and lingual wall forming an approximate U-shapecross-section along an imaginary vertical plane to form a channel; and adeformable member extending through the channel to separate the channelinto a gum receiving section and a fitting section; and, a false teethassembly including a plurality of false teeth secured to said base.

US2006040236 discloses a method of creating a dental restorationcustomized to the clinical needs of a patient comprising the steps of:preparing a patient's existing dental structures for digital modelingwherein the existing dental structures may comprise implant anchors,soft tissue, jawbone, existing teeth, and an existing denture; making afirst three-dimensional digital model of the dental restoration whereinthe first three-dimensional digital model comprises the implant anchors,soft tissue form, any existing teeth, and the planned position of one ormore artificial teeth; creating a second three-dimensional digital modelof the dental restoration wherein the second three-dimensional digitalmodel comprises a substructure for attaching to the patient's existingdental structures and for retaining the artificial teeth; producing thesubstructure from the second three-dimensional digital model;positioning and securing the artificial teeth on the substructure; andsecuring the substructure to the patient's existing dental structures.

It remains a problem to provide an improved method for modeling andmanufacturing of dentures.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a method for modeling and manufacturing a denture for apatient, where the denture comprises a gingival part and artificialteeth, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-   -   providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient's        oral cavity;    -   virtually modeling at least part of the denture using the 3D        scan;    -   obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial teeth;    -   virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth to obtain a        set of modeled virtual teeth;    -   manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first material;    -   manufacturing the gingival part in a second material; and    -   manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of computer        aided manufacturing (CAM).

It is an advantage that the virtual teeth representing artificial teethand/or the gingival may be modeled using a 3D scan comprising at leastpart of the patient's oral cavity. Furthermore, the virtual teethrepresenting the artificial teeth are virtually modeled beforemanufacturing of the denture. The artificial teeth may be selected froma number of virtual pre-designed teeth, and these pre-designed teeth maythen be modeled to fit the patient or meet and satisfy the patient'srequests and wishes. The virtual teeth may correspond to real, physical,pre-manufactured, artificial teeth. Thus the artificial teeth may beselected by the patient at the dentist's clinic either by seeing thephysical artificial teeth in real life or by seeing the virtualpre-designed teeth corresponding to these physical teeth on a computerscreen.

It is a further advantage that the denture can be virtually modeled,since this may provide a denture of higher quality, and the cost as wellas the time needed to make the denture may be reduced. By using a 3Dscan comprising the patient's oral cavity the quality of the denture mayalso be improved. The 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient'soral cavity comprises any teeth still present in the mouth, and it maybe a 3D scan of an impression of the patient's teeth, it may be a 3Dscan of a physical model of the patient's teeth, and/or it may be a 3Dscan made directly in the mouth of the patient, i.e. an intra oral scan.

Providing the 3D scan may mean acquiring the 3D scan by performing thescanning, or retrieving the 3D scan from a digital file on a computer.The 3D scan may be obtained at the same time and place as the modelingand manufacturing are performed, or the 3D scan may be obtainedseparately from the modeling. Furthermore, the modeling andmanufacturing may be performed at the same physical location, ormodeling and manufacturing may be performed at different physicallocations.

Furthermore, the order in which the different steps are performed can bedifferent than the order above. However logically, the modeling stepswill be performed before the manufacturing steps. But the step ofobtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial teeth may forexample be performed before the step of virtually modeling at least partof the denture using the 3D scan.

The artificial teeth may be denoted a teeth part of the denture.

As well as virtual teeth represent the artificial teeth, a virtualgingival part may be defined to represent the gingival part of thedenture.

When manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth, manufactured modeled teethis obtained. It may also be denoted manufactured modeled virtual teeth.

The virtual modeling of the denture in general, and the virtual modelingof the virtual teeth and the gingival part in particular, are performedby means of computer aided designing (CAD).

Many different types of dentures exist, such as:

-   -   full denture;    -   partial denture;    -   denture comprises one or more implants;    -   removable denture;    -   fixed denture;    -   fixed partial denture;    -   removable partial denture;    -   bridge with or without veneering in the form of porcelain or        composite;    -   bar with or without implants, artificial teeth etc;    -   dental prosthesis, e.g. on a bar or on teeth;    -   denture comprising or being attached to an implant bar, which is        adapted to be attached to the jaw bone in the mouth of a        patient.

Furthermore, bar and bridge types may be standard types such as Dolder,Hader, Hybird, Canada, Wrap-around, Primary etc., and bars and bridgesmay be free-form design or custom shapes.

Dentures are different from restorations or prostheses, because adenture replaces missing teeth, and there will thus be artificial teethand artificial gingival in a denture, whereas a restoration for examplein the form of a crown or a bridge will not comprise artificial gingivalor artificial teeth, but crowns and in the case of a bridge, one or morepontics. The processes for designing and manufacturing a denture arethus different from when designing and manufacturing restorations andprostheses.

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually modeling attachmentof the artificial teeth in the gingival part.

Virtual Modeling of the Attachment of Artificial Teeth in the GingivalPart

According to an aspect, disclosed is a method for modeling andmanufacturing a denture for a patient, where the denture comprises agingival part and artificial teeth, wherein the method comprises thesteps of:

-   -   providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient's        oral cavity;    -   virtually modeling at least part of the denture using the 3D        scan;    -   obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial teeth;    -   virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth to obtain a        set of modeled virtual teeth;    -   virtually modeling attachment of the artificial teeth in the        gingival part;    -   manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first material;    -   manufacturing the gingival part in a second material; and    -   manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of computer        aided manufacturing (CAM).

It is an advantage that the attachment of the artificial teeth in thegingival part is virtually modeled or designed, because when also theattachment of the artificial teeth on the gingival part is virtuallydesigned or modeled, then the whole process of designing a denture canbe performed virtually or digitally, and the manufacturing process maythen also be performed entirely automatic, for example without requiringany manual manufacturing or any manufacturing performed by persons.

It is an advantage to virtually design the attachment of the artificialteeth in the gingival part, since this may provide improved aestheticsand functionality of the denture, because the attachment is designedwhile designing the rest of the denture, and the manufacturing of theattachment may also be manufactured while the rest of the denture ismanufactured.

It is an advantage also to virtually design the attachment of theartificial teeth in the gingival part as well as designing the otherparts of the denture, since virtually designing the attachment mayprovide a better, firmer, stronger, more solid, robust and reliableattachment of the artificial teeth.

It is an advantage that in the design process it is ensured that thedesigned teeth actually can also be physically attached in the designedgingival, since the design of the attachment can be visually andcomputationally checked and verified that it can physically beimplemented and executed in the manufactured denture.

Attachment Means and Structures

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually modeling means forattachment of the artificial teeth in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the method comprises virtually modeling physicalstructures for attaching the artificial teeth in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the method further comprises selecting predesignedphysical structures in a digital library for attaching the artificialteeth in the gingival part.

Methods for Virtually Modeling the Attachment of Artificial Teeth in theGingival Part

In some embodiments the virtual modeling of the attachment of theartificial teeth in the gingival part comprises mathematicallysubtracting a first shape from a second shape.

In some embodiments the first shape is the artificial teeth and thesecond shape is the gingival part.

In some embodiments the virtual modeling of the attachment of theartificial teeth in the gingival part comprises offsetting at least apart of the artificial teeth and/or at least part of the gingival part.

In some embodiments the virtual modeling of the attachment of theartificial teeth in the gingival part comprises a cavity operation.

In some embodiments the cavity operation comprises subtracting the shapeof the artificial teeth which is configured for being arranged in thegingival from the gingival part.

It is an advantage to virtually design the artificial teeth and thegingival part such that the area in the gingival part where theartificial teeth shall be arranged is designed or modeled to match thearea on the artificial teeth which shall be arranged in the gingivalpart. For ensuring an effective and stable attachment the shape of thearea in the gingival part where the artificial teeth are configured tobe arranged may match, fit, correspond, resemble the shape of the areaon the artificial teeth which are configured to be arranged in thegingival part. Thus the adjacent 3D surfaces of the contact area on anartificial tooth and of the contact area in the gingival part may bedesigned to exactly match or fit each other.

The contact area on the artificial tooth/teeth may be designed and thenthe design may be copied or transferred to the contact area in thegingival part. Alternatively, the contact in the gingival part may bedesigned and then the design may be copied or transferred to the contactarea on the artificial tooth/teeth.

Alternatively and/or additionally, a pre-designed, standard contact areamay be selected from a digital library in a computer software program,and the design of this selected contact area may then be applied ortransferred to the contact area in the gingival part and/or to thecontact area on the artificial teeth.

Holes in Gingival Part to Receive Teeth

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling andmanufacturing holes in the gingival part to receive the manufacturedteeth.

The Physical Design of the Attachment

In some embodiments the attachment of the artificial teeth in thegingival part is obtained by means of performing undercuts in thegingival part and press-fitting the artificial teeth into the holes andundercuts in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the attachment of the artificial teeth in thegingival part is obtained by means of interlocking features.

In some embodiments the interlocking features are arranged in the holesin the gingival part and/or in the area of the artificial teeth which isadapted to be arranged in the holes in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the interlocking features are ball-shaped.

In some embodiments the interlocking features are adapted to be pushedin such that they align with the surface they are arranged in, and wherethe interlocking features are then adapted to be pushed out when theartificial teeth are arranged in the holes in the gingival part forlocking the artificial teeth in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the interlocking features are adapted to be pushedin such they align with the surface they are arranged in, when pressureis applied on the interlocking features, and when pressure is relievedfrom the interlocking features they are adapted to be pushed out.

In some embodiment the attachment of the artificial teeth in thegingival part is performed by means of gluing the artificial teeth intothe holes of the gingival part.

In some embodiments the artificial teeth are attached in the gingivalpart by means of providing a bore in the area of the artificial teethwhich is adapted to be arranged in the hole in the gingival part, andarranging a bar in the bore, where the bar is adapted to extend to thegingival part for retaining the artificial teeth in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the artificial teeth are attached in the gingivalpart by fastening means.

In some embodiments the fastening means are screws.

Manufacturing the Attachment

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturingattachment means for attaching the artificial teeth in the gingivalpart.

According to an aspect of the present invention a method is disclosedfor modeling a denture for a patient, where the denture comprises agingival part and artificial teeth, wherein the method comprises thesteps of:

-   -   providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient's        oral cavity;    -   virtually modeling at least part of the denture using the 3D        scan;    -   obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial teeth;    -   virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth to obtain a        set of modeled virtual teeth.

Furthermore, according to an aspect of the present invention, a methodis disclosed for manufacturing a denture for a patient, where thedenture comprises a gingival part and artificial teeth, where a 3D scancomprising at least part of the patient's oral cavity is provided, whereat least part of the denture is virtually modeled using the 3D scan;where virtual teeth are obtained to represent the artificial teeth;where at least one of the virtual teeth is virtually modeled to obtain aset of modeled virtual teeth, where the method comprises the steps of:

-   -   manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first material;    -   manufacturing the gingival part in a second material; and    -   manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of computer        aided manufacturing (CAM).

In some embodiments the artificial teeth are manufactured in a syntheticpolymer material, such as acrylic.

Acrylic means a material consisting of or comprising or derived fromacrylic.

In some embodiments the first and the second material are the same.

In some embodiments the first and the second material are different.

In some embodiments the method further comprises obtaining the virtualteeth by algorithmic shaping.

It is an advantage since the fitting and aesthetics of the artificialteeth may be improved, when the virtual teeth are obtained byalgorithmic shaping. The algorithmic shaping may be based on theexisting teeth, gingival etc. in the patient's mouth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises obtaining the virtualteeth by selection from among a number of virtual, pre-designed teeth.Thus when virtually modeling at least one of the selected, virtual,pre-designed teeth, a set of adjusted pre-designed teeth will beobtained.

In some embodiments the method further comprises selecting thepre-designed teeth from a library of template teeth.

The library may be the user's or operator's own library, a library fromcertain manufacturers of artificial teeth etc. Alternatively and/oradditionally the artificial teeth are from a user's own design of teethfor a denture, from an existing restoration etc.

In some embodiments the method further comprises selecting thepre-designed teeth based on shape and/or color.

In some embodiments the virtual teeth correspond to pre-manufacturedteeth.

Thus the virtual teeth exist as or have corresponding pre-manufacturedteeth.

The virtual teeth and the corresponding physical pre-manufacturedartificial teeth may be from a manufacturer of artificial teeth, such asIvoclar, Heraeus, Dentsply, Merz, Vita etc.

Thus the result of the virtual modeling of the virtual teeth will bemanufactured by physically modeling the pre-manufactured teeth. This maybe performed using a CAD-CAM milling or grinding machine.

Alternatively, if using e.g. a ceramic system such as e.max, all theartificial teeth are manufactured from scratch, and no pre-manufacturedteeth are used. The teeth will then be fully customizable teeth based ona design. Thus in some embodiments the artificial teeth are adapted tobe manufactured from scratch using no pre-manufactured teeth.

In some embodiments at least the pre-manufactured teeth are made of amaterial which is adapted to be grinded and/or milled.

In some embodiments the method further comprises automatic grinding ormilling the pre-manufactured teeth according to the modeled virtualteeth by means of a CAM machine.

Alternatively, pre-manufactured teeth may be used directly in thedenture without modifying them, if the design of the pre-manufacturedteeth fit well to the patient. However, normally the virtual teeth willbe modeled somehow in order to fit the present case.

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturing themodeled virtual teeth from pre-manufactured teeth corresponding to thevirtual teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturing themodeled virtual teeth from blanks.

The blanks may be e.max ceramic blanks or other suitable blanks.

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturing themodeled virtual teeth by printing.

It is an advantage that the teeth of the denture may be manufactured bymeans of 3D printing, since 3D printing may provide that the artificialteeth are of good quality both aesthetically and functionally.Furthermore, if both the teeth part and the gingival part of the dentureare printed, then the manufacturing of the denture may be performed fastand with a good result. Even though both the teeth part and the gingivalpart are printed, they may be printed in different materials, e.g. ahard material for the teeth part and a soft material for the gingivalpart, and/or in different colors, such that the teeth part are printedin a white material and the gingival part are printed in a pink/redmaterial resembling the natural color of the gingival.

In some embodiments the method further comprises providing the virtualteeth to have a size so big, that during manufacturing of the modeledvirtual teeth, material is only removed from and not added to thecorresponding pre-manufactured teeth.

It is an advantage since hereby a grinding or milling machine can beused, since material should only be removed from the pre-manufacturedteeth, and a milling or grinding machine is adapted to cut awaymaterial.

When modeling the gingival part of the denture, different things aretaken into account. When a patient has no or only some teeth in themouth, the gingival and the underlying bone structure will disintegrate,where there are no teeth. Thus the gingival part of the denture must bebigger in those areas where the patient has been without teeth for awhile, since the gums have collapsed in these areas.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises modeling the gingivalpart based on a template gingival.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling the gingivalpart based on a determined occlusal plane.

The occlusal plane may be determined based on the position of theretromolar space of the mouth and on the position corresponding to acenter point between the two lower central teeth. The occlusal plane mayfurthermore be determined based on other specific points, teeth,distances etc of the patient's mouth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining where theedge of the gingival part should end at the existing, physiologicalgingival. This may be determined based on a template gingival or it maybe marked manually. The edge of the gingival part should end at a placesuch that it looks natural.

In some embodiments the method further comprises determining where thegingival part should end at the teeth.

This may be determined based on different templates, such as alow-gingival template, a high-gingival template and a normal-gingivaltemplate. It may also the marked manually on the teeth. The edge of thegingival part should end at a place such that it looks natural.

In some embodiment the method further comprises using offsetting,lofting and smooth transitioning to model the gingival part relative tothe existing physiological gingival and the virtual teeth.

Thus points may be marked on the teeth for indicating that the gingivalpart should end there, a first offset of the gingival part from theexisting gingival may be determined, a second offset of the gingivalpart from the teeth may be determined, a smooth transition connectingthe first offset from the existing gingival and the second offset fromthe teeth may be performed using a lofting operation.

Offsetting may be defined as that an offset within an array or otherdata structure object is an integer indicating the distance ordisplacement from the beginning of the object up until a given elementor point.

Lofting is a drafting technique to draw curved lines. The technique canbe used to perform bending of an object, in this case a virtual object,so that it passes over three non-linear points and scribing theresultant curved line, or plotting the line using computers ormathematical tables.

In some embodiments the method further comprises offsetting the gingivalpart around the virtual teeth.

By offsetting the gingival part around the virtual teeth and finallyaround the manufactured teeth, the gingival part will look more naturalsince this offsetting corresponds to how the real physiological gingivallooks around the teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises applying stipple waxpattern on the gingival part.

By applying stipple wax pattern the gingival part will look morenatural. However it may be more difficult to clean the denture whenthere are offsets and stipple wax pattern because the gingival part willbe more bulky, and therefore only the front part of the gingival partmay be applied with the stipple wax pattern, while the part of thegingival hidden by the lips and the mouth may be smooth for easiercleaning.

In some embodiments the method further comprises arranging the positionof the virtual teeth in the gingival part based on predetermined rulesor criteria.

For example the vertical distance between where the real gingival endsin the mouth and where the teeth ends can be a certain distance.

Furthermore, mirroring and symmetry may be used to model the gingivalpart as well as the teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises that at least thegingival part of the denture is manufactured by means of 3D printing.

In some embodiments the method further comprises that at least thegingival part is manufactured by means of milling.

It is an advantage since milling may be easiest to use when undercutsshould be manufactured on the gingival.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling andmanufacturing holes in the gingival part to receive the manufacturedteeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturing thegingival part and the manufactured teeth separately.

In some embodiments the method further comprises assembling themanufactured teeth and the gingival part automatically after themanufacturing, whereby the manufactured teeth are arranged into thecorresponding holes in the gingival part.

In some embodiments the method further comprises manufacturing themodeled virtual teeth and the gingival part collectively.

A collective manufacturing may be performed if both the teeth part andthe gingival part of the denture are manufactured by means of forexample milling or 3D printing.

In some embodiments the method further comprises providing the virtualteeth to have a size so big, that during modeling of the virtual teeth,material is only removed from and not added to the virtual teeth.

It is an advantage because hereby when the teeth are manufactured frompre-manufactured teeth, the pre-manufactured teeth can be adjusted in amilling or grinding machine, because material should only be removed.

In some embodiments the virtual teeth are a composed set of teethcomprising a number of teeth arranged spatially relative to each otherforming a high functional and aesthetic composition.

A high functional composition or combination may be a composition with agood occlusion, bite etc. . . . A high aesthetic composition may be acomposition which is visually pleasing.

In some embodiments the method further comprises collectively modifyingone or more parameters of the teeth in the composed set of teeth.

In some embodiments the denture is adapted to be attached to dentalimplants and/or on dental implant bars or bridges.

The dental implant bars or bridges may be the primary structure, and thedenture may be the secondary or tertiary structure.

Alternatively, the denture is adapted to be supported by existing teethand/or the real gums in the patient's mouth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling the dentureand the dental implants and/or dental implant bar or bridge to fit eachother.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling the attachmentmeans for attaching the denture and the dental implants and/or dentalimplant bar or bridge to fit each other.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling pins on thedental implant bridge and corresponding holes in the denture to fit eachother.

The pins may be virtually moved to fit in the virtual teeth of thedenture. The pins may be free-form shaped or selected from a library orfrom default templates. The holes may be generated automatically basedon the arrangement of the pins. There may also be a cement space in thehole where the pin does not reach down. Pins may be used in a denturefor providing extra strength of the denture.

In some embodiments the method further comprises obtaining the dentalimplant pins and automatically generating the corresponding holes in thedenture to fit the dental implant pins.

The pins may be modeled, selected from a library of dental implant pintemplates, or selected from among a number of default pin templates.

In some embodiments the holes in the denture are manufactured accordingto the corresponding pins in the bridge.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modeling dental implantpins and holes in the denture based on holes in the pre-manufacturedteeth.

The holes may be standard holes in the pre-manufactured teeth, they maybe modeled, selected from a library of holes templates, or selected fromamong a number of default holes templates.

In some embodiments the pins in the bridge are manufactured according tothe corresponding holes in the gingival.

In some embodiments the denture is adapted to be attached to a partialremovable framework.

Thus the denture may be attached at least partly to a partial removableframework, and e.g. partly to existing teeth in the mouth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises collectively modelingthe partial removable framework and the denture comprising themanufactured teeth and the gingival part.

In some embodiments when the gingival part of the denture ismanufactured separately by 3D printing, then the method furthercomprises separating the gingival part and/or the partial removableframework into at least two pieces, such that the gingival part and thepartial removable framework are adapted to be assembled and attached toeach other.

In some embodiments the method further comprises virtually blocking outthe space between the partial removable framework and the existinggingival.

The space may be virtually blocked out such that when manufacturing thegingival part based on the CAD design, the gingival part will not extendbetween the partial removable framework and the real gingival.

When manufacturing a denture, traditionally a try-in is made and testedin the patient's mouth before producing the final denture. The reasonfor this is that the material which the denture is made of is a hardmaterial for ensuring maintenance of the shape, but when testing andadjusting it is easier to use a soft material, and the try-in is thusmade in a deformable material.

In some embodiments the method further comprises the steps of:

-   -   manufacturing a try-in comprising at least a try-in gingival;    -   testing the try-in in the patient's mouth;    -   if the try-in does not fit, adjusting the try-in to fit in the        patient's mouth.

The try-in may also comprise try-in teeth. Thus the try-in may also bedenoted a try-in denture, a try-in gingival, try-in teeth etc. . . .

In some embodiments the method further comprises printing the try-ingingival in a deformable material, such as wax.

In some embodiments the method further comprises scanning the try-inafter testing in the patient's mouth and optional adjustment.

In some embodiments the method further comprises automatically detectingthe changes in the scan of the try-in after the adjustments andmodifying the denture design based on this.

This may be performed by overlaying the first unmodified design or scanof the try-in with the second modified scan or design of the try-in,and/or morphing the first unmodified design or scan to the secondmodified design or scan, segmenting the scan into the teeth and thegingival, and then move the gingival and/or the teeth in the two scansor designs relative to each other for providing a correct overlaying.Then the new denture design can be performed.

In some embodiments the try-in gingival is made in a material which issubject to hardening.

In some embodiments after the try-in has been tested in the patient'smouth and optionally adjusted, the method further comprises hardeningthe try-in gingival, and providing the try-in gingival to be at leastpart of the denture.

In some embodiments the method further comprises hardening the try-in bymeans of light radiation.

In some embodiments after the try-in has been tested in the patient'smouth and optionally adjusted, a gingival part is modeled based on theoptionally adjusted try-in and printed in a hard material.

In some embodiments the try-in comprises the manufactured modeled teeth.

In some embodiments the manufactured modeled teeth used in the try-inare also inserted in the final denture.

Thus only one set of manufactured artificial teeth are manufacturedsince the teeth are used both in the try-in and in the final denture.

In some embodiments at least one of the manufactured modeled teeth usedin the try-in is replaced with a new manufactured modeled tooth, wheninserted in the final denture.

If one or more of the manufactured artificial teeth appears not to fitin the denture after testing them in the try-in, those teeth not fittingwill be replaced by manufactured remodel teeth.

In some embodiments the method further comprises using a dynamic virtualarticulator for simulating occlusion of the teeth set comprising themodeled denture and any teeth still present in the patient's mouth.

In some embodiments the modeled denture and any teeth still present inthe patient's mount comprise a virtual upper jaw and a virtual lower jawof the teeth set.

In some embodiments the method further comprises positioning a virtualalignment plane relative to the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lowerjaw.

In some embodiments the virtual alignment plane is fixed relative to thevirtual articulator.

In some embodiments the virtual alignment plane is a default occlusalplane.

In some embodiments the virtual alignment plane is plane or curved.

In some embodiments the method further comprises automatic movement ofthe virtual alignment plane relative to the movement of the virtualteeth in the denture, when the virtual teeth are being modeled.

In some embodiments one or more of the steps of the method iscomputer-implemented.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program productcomprising program code means for causing a data processing system toperform the method above when said program code means are executed onthe data processing system, and a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium having stored thereon the program code means.

The present invention relates to different aspects including the methoddescribed above and in the following, and corresponding methods,devices, systems, uses, and/or product means, each yielding one or moreof the benefits and advantages described in connection with the firstmentioned aspect, and each having one or more embodiments correspondingto the embodiments described in connection with the first mentionedaspect and/or disclosed in the appended claims.

In particular, disclosed herein is a system for modeling and/ormanufacturing a denture for a patient, where the denture comprises agingival part and artificial teeth, wherein the system comprises:

-   -   means for providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the        patient's oral cavity;    -   means for virtually modeling at least part of the denture using        the 3D scan;    -   means for obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial        teeth;    -   means for virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth        to obtain a set of modeled virtual teeth;    -   means for manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first        material;    -   means for manufacturing the gingival part in a second material;        and    -   means for manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of        computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

In particular, disclosed herein is a system for modeling andmanufacturing a denture for a patient, where the denture comprises agingival part and artificial teeth, wherein the system comprises:

-   -   means for providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the        patient's oral cavity;    -   means for virtually modeling at least part of the denture using        the 3D scan;    -   means for obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial        teeth;    -   means for virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth        to obtain a set of modeled virtual teeth;    -   means for virtually modeling attachment of the artificial teeth        in the gingival part;    -   means for manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first        material;    -   means for manufacturing the gingival part in a second material;        and    -   means for manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of        computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

Disclosed is also a device for modeling and/manufacturing a denture fora patient, where the denture comprises a gingival part and artificialteeth, wherein the device comprises:

-   -   means for providing a 3D scan comprising at least part of the        patient's oral cavity;    -   means for virtually modeling at least part of the denture using        the 3D scan;    -   means for obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial        teeth;    -   means for virtually modeling at least one of the virtual teeth        to obtain a set of modeled virtual teeth;    -   means for manufacturing the modeled virtual teeth in a first        material;    -   means for manufacturing the gingival part in a second material;        and    -   means for manufacturing at least part of the denture by means of        computer aided manufacturing (CAM).

According to another aspect of the invention a fixture apparatus isdisclosed for retaining a blank from which at least manufactured teethof a denture are adapted to be manufactured according to any of thepreceding claims.

It is an advantage since hereby the blank is arranged in the fixture ina known position relative to the grinding/milling machinery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, will be further elucidated by the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of thepresent invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow chart of the method.

FIGS. 2a ) to 2 c) show examples of manufactured dentures.

FIGS. 3a ) and 3 b) show examples of virtual modeling of dentures.

FIGS. 4a ) to 4 c) show examples of different implant bars.

FIGS. 5a ) to 5 c) show examples of different attachment types.

FIGS. 6a ) and 6 b) show examples of implant bridges.

FIG. 7 shows an example of combination of different CAD modeling for aset of teeth.

FIGS. 8a ) and 8 b) show an example of a how a denture and a partialremovable framework are attached to each other.

FIGS. 9a ) and 9 b) show examples of modeling the gingival part.

FIGS. 10a ) to 10 f) show examples of attachment of the artificial teethin the gingival part.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a flow chart of an aspect of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingfigures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may bepracticed.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow chart of the method for computer-aidedmodeling and computer-aided manufacturing of a denture comprising agingival part and artificial teeth.

In step 101 a 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient's oralcavity os provided.

In step 102 at least part of the denture is virtually modeled using the3D scan.

In step 103 virtual teeth is obtained to represent the artificial teeth.

In step 104 at least one of the virtual teeth is virtually modeled toobtain a set of modeled virtual teeth.

In step 105 the modeled virtual teeth is manufactured in a firstmaterial.

In step 106 the gingival part is manufactured in a second material.

In step 107 at least part of the denture is manufactured by means ofcomputer aided manufacturing (CAM).

FIG. 2 shows examples of manufactured dentures.

FIG. 2a ) shows pictures of a denture 201 which is, or is a part of, orcomprises a partial denture. The partial denture 201 comprises aframework 206 and a gingival part 203 and a teeth part comprisingartificial acrylic teeth 205.

In the top image, the partial denture is arranged next to a model of thepatient's present teeth, and the denture is seen from below, i.e. fromthe side pointing towards the palate.

In the bottom image, the partial denture is arranged on the model of thepatient's teeth, and the denture is seen from above, i.e. from the sidepointing towards the surroundings when the denture is arranged in themouth of the patient.

FIG. 2b ) shows pictures of an upper denture 201 and a lower denture,which are both partial dentures. The partial dentures 201 comprise aframework 206 and a gingival part 203 and the top image also shows ateeth part comprising artificial acrylic teeth 205.

In the top image, the partial dentures are arranged on the models of thepatient's present teeth, and the dentures are seen from above or fromthe frontside.

In the bottom image, the partial dentures are arranged next to themodels of the patient's teeth, and the dentures are seen from below orfrom the backside. In the bottom image the dentures are shown withoutthe artificial teeth or the veneering of the metal framework.

FIG. 2c ) shows pictures of a denture 201 which is a full maxillarydenture, i.e. a denture for the upper arch. The denture 201 comprises agingival part 203 and a teeth part comprising artificial teeth 205 madeof acrylics.

In the top image, the partial denture is arranged on the model of thepatient's present teeth, and the denture is seen from above or from thefrontside.

In the bottom image, the partial denture is arranged next to the modelof the patient's teeth, and the denture is seen from below or from thebackside.

The denture 201 shown in FIG. 2c ) is a removable denture, and it is notattached to the mouth by any attachment means when in use, so thepatient can at any time remove the denture. The denture 201 of FIG. 2c )is held in place in the patient's mouth by means of friction, suction,negative pressure etc.

The dentures 201 of FIG. 2a ) and FIG. 2b ) may be removable for thepatient, however alternatively the dentures may be attached to theexisting teeth by some attachment means, which only the dentist shouldmanage.

InteraDent Zahntechnik GmbH in Lübeck, Germany has provided the imagesof the different dentures shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows examples of virtual modeling of dentures.

FIG. 3a ) shows an example of virtual modeling of an implant bar forimplants and denture.

The virtual denture 301 comprises a virtual teeth part 304 comprisingvirtual teeth 305, and a virtual gingival part 303. Inside the virtualdenture 301 which is transparent, a virtual implant bar 307 is seen andmarked with dots above it. A number of virtual implant screws 308 arealso seen sticking out underneath the denture 301. The implant screws308 are attached to the implant bar 307. A part of a scan 302 of thepatient's jaw is also seen inside the denture 301.

The implant bar 307 is modeled for optimal fit to the denture 301 andimplants 308 using virtual tools in the computer aided drawing (CAD)software. Virtual measurements can be performed to validate space anddistances of the denture 301, the scan 302, the implant bar 307, theimplants screws 308 etc. . . . The connection from the implant bar 307to the implants 308 can be shaped as a cylindrical extension, as afreeform emergence profile etc.

FIG. 3b ) shows an example of virtual modeling of a removable denture.

A virtually modeled tooth 305 in a partial removable framework isarranged with a distance to the existing gingival 316, and the space 319between the tooth and the existing gingival is virtually blocked out foravoiding having the denture material between the teeth and the existinggingival when the manufactured denture is worn by the patient. Thegingival part 303 is modeled such that the tooth 305 is attached in thegingival part 303.

FIG. 4 shows examples of different implant bars.

FIG. 4a ) shows an example of an implant bar 407 for a full denture (notshown). The denture may be a removable denture, i.e. it may be removablyattached to the implant bar 407 by means of attachments in the form ofe.g. clips (not shown) which can be snapped on and off the implant bar407. The implant bar 407 comprises holes 411 for receiving implants.

FIG. 4b ) shows an example of an implant bar 407 for a full denture (notshown). The denture may be a removable denture, i.e. it may be removablyattached to the implant bar 407 by means of attachments 409 in the formof locators present on both the denture and on the implant bar 407,where the locators 409 provides that the denture can be clicked on andoff the implant bar 407.

The implant bar 407 comprises holes 411 for receiving implants.

FIG. 4c ) shows an example of an implant bar 407 for a full denture (notshown). The denture may be a fixed denture, i.e. it may be fixedlyattached to the implant bar 407 e.g. by gluing part of the denture intothe retention holes 410 in the implant bar 407. This may be performed byusing acrylics in the denture, and the soft acrylics from the denturewill then run into the retention holes 410 of the implant bar 407 andthereby attaching the denture to the implant bar 407.

The implant bar 407 comprises holes 411 for receiving implants.

FIG. 5 shows examples of different attachment types.

FIG. 5a ) shows an attachment in the form of a locator 509. The locator509 may comprise a male part on e.g. the implant bar and a female parton e.g. the denture or vice versa, and the male part and the female partmay work as a button.

FIG. 5b ) shows an attachment in the form of a ball attachment 509.

FIG. 5c ) shows an attachment in the form of retention holes 510.

Another type of attachment may be a slide attachment, however any kindof attachment from a CAD library may be used.

When modeling the denture and implant, the different kinds ofattachments can be added anywhere on the implant bar, and theattachments can then be rotated and translated for fine-adjustment oftheir position and angles.

FIG. 6 shows examples of implant bridges.

FIG. 6a ) shows an example of an implant bridge 607 onto which a fulldenture is adapted to be arranged. On the side opposite to where thedenture should be attached, the implant bridge 607 comprises protrusions612 from holes for receiving implants (not shown).

FIG. 6b ) shows an example of an implant bridge 607 comprising pins 613where each pin is adapted to receive an artificial tooth having a holein it for fitting over the pin, or where the pin is adapted to becovered by veneering in the form of e.g. ceramics or composite materialfor resembling teeth. Thus in this case the denture may be defined ascomprising the artificial teeth attached onto the pins, or the denturemay be defined as the veneering resembling teeth. On the side oppositeto the pins 613, the implant bridge 607 comprises protrusions 612 fromholes for receiving implants (not shown).

An original wax-up bar design may be scanned for remodeling the implantbar in a new material to create a digitized file that is suitable fore.g. copy milling. Adjustments to the digitized model can be applied toachieve the optimal copy milling result.

FIG. 7 shows an example of combination of different CAD modeling for aset of teeth.

All restorations may be designed in the same modeling session usingembodiments of the present method. When all restorations are modeled inthe same session the efficiency and clinical result will be improved.

FIG. 7 shows a standard bridge 714, full anatomical crowns 715, animplant bridge 707 and implants 708. A denture should also be modeledusing CAD and after manufacturing be attached to the implant bridge 707and e.g. on the standard bridge 714. Alternatively, veneering can beapplied to the standard bridge to make it an anatomical bridge, e.g.veneering in the form of porcelain.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a how a denture and a partial removableframework are attached to each other.

FIG. 8a ) shows a partial removable framework 806 with retention gridand holes 817 but without artificial teeth or gingival attached.

FIG. 8b ) shows a cross section of a denture with a partial removableframework, for example as those seen in FIGS. 2a ) and 2 b). The partialremovable framework 806 is embedded in the gingival part 803, since thegingival part 803 is both present above and below the framework 806. Anartificial tooth 805 is arranged in the gingival part, and the gingivalpart 803 rests on the patient's real physiological gingival 816.

If the gingival part 803 is poured in silicone, then the liquid siliconecan flow into the holes of the retention grid 817 in the framework 806.But if the gingival part 803 is printed, then there is no liquidsilicone to flow into the holes of the retention grid 817. For theframework 806 and the gingival part 803 to be attached to each other,the gingival part 803 may then be separated as indicated by theseparation line 818 into two or more pieces which can then be assembledaround the framework 806. The separation line(s) 818 can be at otherplaces in the gingival part 803, e.g. vertical instead of horizontaletc. Alternatively and/or additionally, the framework 806 including theretention grid 817 can be separated into two or more pieces.

FIG. 9 shows examples of modeling the gingival part.

FIG. 9a ) shows points 920 marked on the teeth 905 for indicating thatthe gingival part 903 should end there. A first offset 921, marked byarrows, of the gingival part 903 from the existing gingival 916 may bedetermined, an second offset, marked by arrows, 922 of the gingival part903 from the teeth 905 may be determined, a smooth transition 923connecting the first offset 921 from the existing gingival 916 and thesecond offset 922 from the teeth may be performed using a loftingoperation.

FIG. 9b ) shows an example of offsetting 922, marked by arrows, thegingival part 903 around the virtual teeth 905. By offsetting thegingival part 903 around the virtual teeth 903 and finally around themanufactured teeth, the gingival part 903 will look more natural sincethis is how the physiological gingival looks.

FIG. 10 shows examples of attachment of the artificial teeth in thegingival part.

FIG. 10a ) shows an example where holes 1024 are modeled andmanufactured in the gingival part 1003 to receive the manufacturedteeth. In the FIG. 14 holes 1024 are provided, and thus this denture isconfigured for receiving 14 artificial teeth, which may be all the teethof the lower or upper jaw of a patient. Thus this is a full denture forthe upper or lower jaw. Fewer holes 1024 may be manufactured in thegingival part 1003, if the denture is not a full denture, but a partialdenture.

FIG. 10b ) shows an example where the hole 1024 in the gingival partcomprises undercuts 1025, whereby the artificial tooth 1006 can beattached in the hole 1024 by press-fitting.

FIG. 10c ) shows an example where the artificial tooth 1005 is attachedin the hole 1024 of the gingival part by means of a fastening means inthe form of a screw 1026 in the bottom of the hole 1024. A screw hole1027 is manufactured in the bottom of the hole 1024, and a screw hole1028 is manufactured in the bottom of the artificial tooth 1005.

FIG. 10d ) shows an example where the artificial tooth 1005 is attachedin the hole 1024 in the gingival part by means of ball-shapedinterlocking features 1029, 1030. The part of the interlocking featurein the hole 1024 may be denoted the hole interlocking feature 1029, andthe part of the interlocking feature in the artificial tooth 1005 may bedenoted the tooth interlocking feature 1030. The hole interlockingfeature 1029 and the tooth interlocking feature 1030 match each othersuch that the tooth 1005 is fixed in the hole 1024 in the gingival partby means of the interlocking features 1029 and 1030.

There may be one or more, such as one, two, three, four or five sets ofinterlocking features for each artificial tooth.

The tooth interlocking feature 1030 may be configured to be pushed in toalign with the plane surface of the tooth where it is arranged, forexample when pressure is applied to the interlocking feature 1030, e.g.when a machine or a dental technician presses the interlocking feature1030 in for pushing the artificial tooth 1005 in the hole 1024 in thegingival. When the artificial tooth 1005 has been pushed down into thehole 1024, the tooth interlocking feature 1030 is configured to push outagain and file the space in the side wall of the hole 1024 provided bythe corresponding hole interlocking feature 1029.

FIG. 10e ) shows an example where the artificial tooth 1005 is attachedin the hole 1024 in the gingival part by means of ball-shapedinterlocking features 1029, 1030. The part of the interlocking featurein the hole 1024 may be denoted the hole interlocking feature 1029, andthe part of the interlocking feature in the artificial tooth 1005 may bedenoted the tooth interlocking feature 1030. The hole interlockingfeature 1029 and the tooth interlocking feature 1030 match each othersuch that the tooth 1005 is fixed in the hole 1024 in the gingival partby means of the interlocking features 1029 and 1030.

There may be one or more, such as one, two, three, four or five sets ofinterlocking features for each artificial tooth.

The hole interlocking feature 1029 may be configured to be pushed in toalign with the plane surface of the wall of the hole 1024 where it isarranged, for example when pressure is applied to the interlockingfeature 1029, e.g. when a machine or a dental technician pushes theartificial tooth 1005 into the hole 1024 in the gingival. When theartificial tooth 1005 has been pushed down into the hole 1024, the holeinterlocking feature 1029 is configured to push out again and file thespace in the side wall of the tooth 1005 provided by the correspondingtooth interlocking feature 1030.

FIG. 10f ) shows an example where the artificial tooth 1005 is attachedin the gingival part by means of providing a bore 1031 in the area ofthe artificial teeth which is adapted to be arranged in the hole 1024 inthe gingival part, and arranging a bar 1032 in the bore 1031, where thebar 1032 is adapted to extend outside the hole 1024 of the gingival part1003 for retaining the artificial tooth 1005 in the gingival part 1003.The hole 1024 in the gingival part 1003 may comprises holes 1033 in theside walls of the hole 1024 such that the bar 1032 can fit in the hole1024.

Alternatively and/or additionally the artificial teeth may be attached,e.g. in holes, in the gingival part by means of glue, cement, tape,vacuum or negative pressure created by means of moisture in thepatient's mouth etc.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a flow chart of the method forcomputer-aided modeling and computer-aided manufacturing of a denturecomprising a gingival part and artificial teeth.

In step 101 a 3D scan comprising at least part of the patient's oralcavity os provided.

In step 102 at least part of the denture is virtually modeled using the3D scan.

In step 103 virtual teeth is obtained to represent the artificial teeth.

In step 104 at least one of the virtual teeth is virtually modeled toobtain a set of modeled virtual teeth.

In step 105 attachment of the artificial teeth in the gingival part isvirtually modeling for securing an fixing the artificial teeth in thegingival part.

In step 106 the modeled virtual teeth is manufactured in a firstmaterial.

In step 107 the gingival part is manufactured in a second material.

At least part of the denture is manufactured by means of computer aidedmanufacturing (CAM).

Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, theinvention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in otherways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the followingclaims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments maybe utilised and structural and functional modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means canbe embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact thatcertain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims ordescribed in different embodiments does not indicate that a combinationof these measures cannot be used to advantage.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when usedin this specification is taken to specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps or components but does not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,components or groups thereof.

The features of the method described above and in the following may beimplemented in software and carried out on a data processing system orother processing means caused by the execution of computer-executableinstructions. The instructions may be program code means loaded in amemory, such as a RAM, from a storage medium or from another computervia a computer network. Alternatively, the described features may beimplemented by hardwired circuitry instead of software or in combinationwith software.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for digitally designing a denture for apatient, where the denture comprises a gingival part and artificialteeth, wherein the method comprises: providing a 3D scan comprising atleast part of the patient's oral cavity; creating a virtual model of atleast part of the denture using the 3D scan from which a try-incomprising at least a gingival component is manufactured, tested in thepatient's oral cavity, and adjusted if necessary; scanning the try-inafter adjusting the try-in to create a scan of the adjusted try-in; andadjusting the virtual model of the denture using the scan of theadjusted try-in.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjustingthe virtual model of the denture includes overlaying the virtual modelof the denture with the scan of the adjusted try-in and modifying thevirtual model of the denture based on the scan of the adjusted try-in.3. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the virtual modelof the denture includes morphing the virtual model of the denture basedon the scan of the adjusted try-in.
 4. The method according to claim 1,automatically detecting changes between the scan made before testingwith the scan made after testing; and modifying the virtual model of thedenture based on the detected changes.
 5. The method according to claim1, further comprising: manufacturing the artificial teeth in a firstmaterial; manufacturing the gingival part in a second material; andmanufacturing at least part of the denture by means of computer aidedmanufacturing.
 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:obtaining virtual teeth to represent the artificial teeth; and virtuallymodeling at least one of the virtual teeth to obtain a set of modeledvirtual teeth.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises printing the gingival component of the try-in in adeformable material.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein thegingival component of the try-in is made in a material which is subjectto hardening.
 9. The method according to claim 1, where after the try-inhas been tested in the patient's mouth and optionally adjusted, themethod further comprises hardening the gingival component of the try-in,and providing the gingival component of the try-in to be at least partof the denture.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises hardening the gingival component of the try-in bymeans of light radiation.
 11. The method according to claim 1, whereinafter the try-in has been tested in the patient's oral cavity andoptionally adjusted, the gingival part is modeled based on theoptionally adjusted try-in and printed in a hard material.
 12. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the try-in comprises manufacturedmodeled teeth.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein themanufactured modeled teeth used in the try-in are also inserted in thedenture.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one ofthe manufactured modeled teeth used in the try-in is replaced with atleast one new manufactured modeled tooth, when inserted in the denture.15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: manufacturingthe try-in comprising at least a gingival component based on thevirtually modelled denture; testing the try-in in the patient's oralcavity; if the try-in does not fit, adjusting the try-in to fit in thepatient's oral cavity.
 16. The method according to claim 7, wherein thedeformable material is wax.